Loading Large Equipment Through Aircraft Entry Door

A modular rail system for loading equipment through an aircraft entry door, the rail system comprising:

• a number of detachable rail segments comprising parallel rails connected by cross ties;
• a number of track adapters configured to attach at least one of the rail segments to seat tracks in the floor of the aircraft at a prescribed angle relative to the seat tracks;
• and
• a number of rail carriages configured to slide along the rails of the rail segments.

A method of loading equipment through an aircraft entry door, the method comprising:

• connecting a number of track adapters to seat tracks in the floor of the aircraft;
• connecting a first rail segment to the track adapters, wherein the track adapters hold the rail segment at a prescribed angle relative to the seat tracks;
• connecting a number of additional rail segments to the first rail segment, wherein the prescribed angle aligns the rail segments along a straight path through the entry door based on the model of the aircraft, wherein a first subset of the rail segments are outboard the aircraft and a second subset of the rail segments, including the first rail segment are onboard the aircraft;
• securing equipment onto a number of rail carriages attached to the rail segments and configured to slide along the rail segments the first subset of rail segments outboard the aircraft;
• sliding the equipment along the rail segments through the entry door and into the aircraft;
• removing the equipment from the rail segments;
• and
• removing the rail segments from the aircraft.